The only reason is a “perception” issue is because the “media” is making it on. Tons of people leave dodge when bad weather is coming or hits harder than expected. It’s why Florida has so many snow-birds during the winter every year.
We are talking about a Senator who was in Texas when the storm happened. And decided to bail out. He was probably nagged by wife and daughters. Didn’t man up. Not smart enough to say you go honey, but I have to stay.